With no Premier League games this weekend we are without a Saints fixture to attend, but why not support grass roots and pop along to one of our local non league sides, AFC Totton are at home and have a cup tie against their biggest rivals this season.
Eastleigh FC have benefitted from disenchanted Saints supporters in the last few years as the demographic of the crowd has changed from the longer older supporter to a younger age group brought up on the Premier League and all it's razzmatazz.
But they are away this weekend and travel to Yeovil, a team that only 11 years ago was on our fixture list for a couple of seasons.
However AFC Totton who now have close links with Southampton FC with both the Saints woman's team and the B & Academy teams playing fixtures at the Snows Stadium.
This weekend they are at home to Frome Town whom they are currently lying second to in the Southern League Division 1 South.
However this is not a League fixture but a 1st round tie of the FA Trophy, a tournament that if they progress in they could meet some of the National League sides and potentially play some big names.
Ironically if AFC Totton and Frome Town had both failed to progress beyond their respective FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round matches against higher league opposition, these two sides would still have met in the Southern League Div.1 South this Saturday.
But, thanks to the Stags home win over Dorchester and Frome’s impressive 3-2 victory against Poole, they will meet in the 1st Round proper of the knock-out cup competition for semi-professional football clubs.
The game will kick off at the Snows Stadium in Totton at 3pm on Saturday and a big crowd is expected, although there will be a pay at the gate option as you would expect, tickets can also be purchased on line using the link below.
Adult tickets are only £10, concessions (13-17 & over 65 ) are only £6 and children under 13 are free.
The Snows Stadium is a modern ground with terracing on all four sides and two covered seated stands, they have bars & food outlets selling alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks as well various food options.
https://www.afctotton.com/news/next-fa-trophy-action-against-frome-town
If you are not able to get along to Totton then why not go and watch one of the local teams that are near you, the likes of AFC Millbrook, Sholing and AFC Stoneham all play at a decent level with good facilities, but barring that why not just pop over the local park and watch a the real grass roots football.